KDP forces shut down office of an NGO in Hewlêr

Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) police (asayish) forces banned a seminar by Academy for Politics and Democratic Thought and shut down the office of the organization in Hewlêr (Erbil).

KDP’s asayish forces banned a seminar about literature which was organized by the Academy for Politics and Democratic Thought yesterday. Several Kurdish writers and intellectuals were expected to attend the seminar.

After the ban, the asayish forces raided the organization’s office in Hewler and shut it down without any reason.

The Sulaymaniyah based NGO sent a statement to Roj News Agency and said that they will continue their work in spite of the oppression by the authorities.

“Yesterday at 21:30 the asayish forces came to our office in Hewler and stated that they will shut down the office without a court order. Also, the asayish members said: ‘Leave the office. You can’t work in Hewlêr from now on”.

This attitude shows that they are afraid of the activities of civil institutions. The Kurdistan’s society is troubled with the asayish forces. These attitudes cast a shadow over law and constitution” the statement read.

The director of Academy for Politics and Democratic Thought, Faik Gulpi protested KDP and said: “This is a political decision and dictatorial approach. KDP is afraid of the academy and science developing among the society. This fear was obvious during the recent protests. There are political and arbitrary practices”. 

The Academy for Politics and Democratic Thought is an NGO based in Sulaymaniyah and operating since 2015.